New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-05
THE BROOKLYN COMMITTEE.
COUNTY CLERK AND REGISTER UNDER FIRE

lowcommtteemen the State Legislature began the
inquiry regard to the alleged corruption and rreguan
ties In municipal AFFAIRS the City Of Churches the pre-
lmnary steps for which taken nearly month ago.
Repeated delays occurred in order to get the ma
chlnery OF the inquiry smoothly running Tho counsel
for the committee busy for two weeks In laying
ont the plan for the and In selecting the witnesses
Tho place OF meeting for the present will be the Common
Council Chamber, which is only used once week
by tho Aldermen. BY 10 a. m. yesterday the
painted portraits Of the ex-Mayors Of Brooklyn
from George Hall to Seth Low looked down assem-
bly, including some Of the prominent men in the
city and many Democratic politicians and ward heel
es gathered to listen to the evidence The five Assem-
bymen Messrs Bacon, Arnold Cole, Greene ana cutter
we're promptly hand with their legal advisers Messrs
Parsons. Goodrich and Shepard Sergeant at Arms Scott
Of the Assembly, was with them to look after the wit
nesses.
Among the spectators Chairman John B. Green,
n, the Republican General Committee George H. Fisher
Supervisor T. b. Willis 8. Is. Duryea, /. d. Edgerton'
Corporation Counsel jerks H. j. Menningor, Ernest Ma
than D. f. Estes, r. W. Hinricks, j. A. weinberg, Pat
rick Ready John Oakley Alderman Tanning Arbitration
commissioner Donovan, County Auditor Lake, and r. b.
sedgwick Thirty reporters occupied tables In front OF
tho eommtee and the OF the room was packed with
sDcctstors although tho proceedings were uninter-
esting being devoted to an inquiry concerning
the interior economy OF the County Clerks and Registers
offices and the received by the incumbents Three
w
hearing was adjourned until 10 m. to-day. The chief
fact developed was that County Clerk Rankin Is mere
aeurohead his Office and knew little OF ts management
He skfully evaded being the first witness py peng con
ven,eny absent when his name called, and the nrst
facts about his Office elected from Deputy County
Clerk Barnard who has had seventeen years experience
In the office Mr. Ranken and Register Murtha were I'll,
eced 10 produce their private bank DOCKS To-Day ara
something interesting may DO learned IN REGARD 10 te
disposition OF the funds thay nave received from 'he
oli
Chairman Bacon began the investigation By reading the
Assembly resolution under which the Inquiry Is held ana
sereaant scott read tho names OF the following
witnesses called In their order; nearly all OF them
County Clerk hanEin DEPUTY County Clerk George , O.
Parma BsTra ah mTs Farley hs deputy Hugh NcIsasn
clerk Frank MeG9re OIL gasae
Reeve and secretary Evangdcs OF the Civil Service Com
mission.
In tho absence OF tho first witness Deputy County Clerk
BARNARD was questioned by Mr. Parsons. The witness
aid that four men had been at work getting the nacts
suborlnaes In the office were employed by the county
Clerk and most OF them got salaries from nun tne income
the Office every day. dischargng duties ana giving per
soul attention many matters. Most OF the employees
had been for many years the Office, but County Clerk
RANKIN had given his MACE as assistant clerk at
SO a week. The volume OF the work had greatly in
creased IN the a.t years but the amount OF fees re
coiyed about the same Tue total revenue Oh INC
county paid Mr.. Rankin Cog s2l 1913 81; Inc
largest single days receipts were 5000 % There were
% extra searches paid Tor by fees TO the searchors the
amount OF which was from $4,000 70 $1,000 year
Inc total expenses 81 office S23G74 GO. leaving
ho believed 10 be absolutely correct He himself re-
oeved salary Of $1,000 and 20 per cent OF the lees Tor
searches amounting to about : ,200a year The daily
accounts kept slate, which was wiped OH every
day.
o-I.it literal slatel Ats asone slate and write
on Il " M stone pencil II is oidashoned school slate
fLsaghterl
The witness testified that In some previous years
onnpv "crss had made from 81 600 TO 81 600 year
and ono incumbent OF the once told him he made
go go 600 besiios what he got from the county This
in
I'm real estate high and many utles
uoro scarched Mr. Barnard said the change from fee
IN saared Office had been sgtsted for ten years. bn
he constantly opposed IT, "a It would Increase the cost OF
Idmnty cerh Rankin was next called to testify. Tie
said that ne in regular business when elected IN
Iss5 lie di not know what the lawful extra fees paid
for searches In 1856 or whether $4,000 would
cover the amount The only record OF the reyenues OF
tho once the cash book TO the proostiop.o make
the Office salared he had given little thought as
tie Constitution provided that no change could TO mage
psri,,er's office In New.York running $4,000 behind
under the saaded sysiem he dld not m'nR cA9ng' o
services OF an efficient County Clerk but
s.1sI. NJ hum w SSad a mot Fs' P M
Rankin was asked what became OF the enormous sum q
money ne 5s coo a. r 2.,r tho ONCE "'" nc
"Ipat It il my pocket" was the reply with laugh
Ms RanSin resented this and said he understood that
the Investigation ws o. the county AFFAIRS ana hot OF us
an What ground do you object A-Because there
simply 10 any crimes or Irregularities have been
Mr. parsons argued that this ground untenable.
The committees, was simply in invest 70
ascertAn whether any such ming ,o eNA' 20.
AST hsa bee1 read Chairman Bacon ruled
Ina, the witness should answer Assem1y,nah Tt RE-
but he desired the fullest inquiry Mr Par
sone S H. "a 600 lie received in 1856 In heated
manner the witness replied.
consider money osGnsns TO me as cS sou ny te
port family ETC. and so on no one cS SSa OF
az !se n lave pos.esson OF whatever balances
there a,s the 70 hn Should appropriate any part
he receipts any vns man either In Kings County OF any
10 further questions he said that no deposited tho
in bank and drew II for his family aud personal
"a o, ontste of Ills Office could tell his payments
hy his checkbook After further details with constant
ollw Mr. Rankin to presens today detailed statement
Of the which he has put the receipts OF his Office
what asd 0eIT invested. and what amounts il
any, been spent for political purpose mr. Kun Ken
committee oyerruIed his objection the Democratic mem
lie dissenting far as bis private account was con-
no other witnesses from tho County Clerks Office and
from the sheris "se Se h ~ hs s
poyes aud the business oil ms Once ne s Se sVs ss
on 3S The disbursements were s3i 1856 Ca leaving
balance OF s37o3o lie had 1 competent deputy ana "a
maxim. tho OSs s.s.d ,''t ,s pf SSS las s
ml,u hank account, aud he refused unless
pdsrcd 10 do 80 by tho committed This the committee
scted by the vote OF the three Republican members
~ Martha protested veheUently against the commit
tess inQuirng In regard To his private affairs He Gro
ted laugh In the room when asked II his predecessor
-, Recster Richards was OF tho political faith as
ho Nominally he was" was the reply.
What do you mean by noninahy = queried Mr. far-
$1,000 -. 4, $3.50. -, ..,a -, h,, r,or,,
crats and am Democrat" said Mr.. Murtha, Ind the
6emocrats present INDUCED In loud applause.
CAPTAIN EARLE AND HIS GATLiNG GUNS
Captain Ferdinand p Earle. commanding tho 20